Simulator offers life-saving lessons

Holland High School students stepped into the shoes of a drunken driver and navigated a virtual car while “impaired” on Friday, May 30 in the high school auditorium.

Students sat in a real car console surrounded by three flat-screen monitors. The engine revved and tires squealed as students finished by crashing into the sides of buses and buildings.

Freshman Michael Pierson said it was challenging.

“I thought it was going to be easier than it would be, but when you start driving and you press the brakes, the brakes are kind of hard,” Pierson said. “You keep swerving and the wheel keeps turning.”

David Steffen

Holland High School students stepped into the shoes of a drunken driver and navigated a virtual car while “impaired” on Friday, May 30 in the high school auditorium.

Students sat in a real car console surrounded by three flat-screen monitors. The engine revved and tires squealed as students finished by crashing into the sides of buses and buildings.

Freshman Michael Pierson said it was challenging.

“I thought it was going to be easier than it would be, but when you start driving and you press the brakes, the brakes are kind of hard,” Pierson said. “You keep swerving and the wheel keeps turning.”

Junior Janet Arias was not anticipating such a challenge either. She crashed.

“I didn’t expect it to go like that,” Arias said. “I know how to drive, but I guess it doesn’t really matter if you know how to drive or not.”

Drivers struggled through intersections, traffic and with aggressive drivers. Kramer Entertainment’s “Save a Life!” simulator created up to a one-second delay in vehicle response to simulate driving while impaired. Drivers start off “sober” but reach a simulated blood alcohol level of 0.3 — well past Michigan’s legal 0.08 limit.

Assistant Principal Lee Gilbert said he liked the interactive aspect. He said it was the school’s first “Save a Life!” tour, compliments of an Ottawa County Health Department grant.

“We’re always trying to help students recognize the issues with it, not only the destructiveness to their own self, but the fact that they also put other people in jeopardy,” Gilbert said. “It’s a wonderful program.”

Donna Baker, Kramer sales associate, said she hopes the simulator shows students the realities of drunken driving. She said the tour is nationwide and visits schools five days a week during the school year.

“If we can save one life, it’s worth it,” Baker said.

Chris Geysbeek, manager of “Save a Life!” tour, guided students through their drives. He shared with students the loss of his best friend to a drunken driver.

“It’s a great hands-on opportunity,” Geysbeek said. “You can sit through class, you can sit there and hear someone talk about it, but if you actually get a chance to get their hands on and see what it’s like from the sober side of life, I think it’s a real eye opener.”
Pierson and Arias agreed and said the presentation reminded them to never drink and drive.

“When you’re like that, it’s harder to drive,” Pierson said. “And I don’t want to get in crashes and stuff like that, so I’d rather just drive sober.”